The best campgrounds near Davenport, Iowa with swimming

In Davenport, you’ll find over 260 campsites perfect for anyone who wants to swim between campfires and wildlife-watching. Expect quick access to rivers, ponds, and swimming holes—this is a patchwork of water and woods, not just tent pads and parking spots. The average night runs about $34, with options dipping as low as $30. Locals often head to Draco Hill Nature Farm (316 reviews) for its easy trails and secret creek spots. 1860's Botanical Paradise (116 reviews) draws wildflower hunters and swimmers alike. Prefer a quieter stay? Honey Bee & Bee Homestead (6 reviews) sits just outside town—less crowded, but close enough for a morning dip. Showers, pet-friendly policies, and open campfires are standard, so pack for comfort, not compromise.

94% (492)

Top-rated campgrounds

In Davenport, you’ll find over 260 campsites perfect for anyone who wants to swim between campfires and wildlife-watching. Expect quick access to rivers, ponds, and swimming holes—this is a patchwork of water and woods, not just tent pads and parking spots. The average night runs about $34, with options dipping as low as $30. Locals often head to Draco Hill Nature Farm (316 reviews) for its easy trails and secret creek spots. 1860's Botanical Paradise (116 reviews) draws wildflower hunters and swimmers alike. Prefer a quieter stay? Honey Bee & Bee Homestead (6 reviews) sits just outside town—less crowded, but close enough for a morning dip. Showers, pet-friendly policies, and open campfires are standard, so pack for comfort, not compromise.

94% (492)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. 1860's Botanical Homestead

97%

(165)

50mi from Davenport · 2 sites · Tents, Lodging · Bellevue, IA

Happy to announce we’ve won "the best of" properties to visit in Iowa! We hope to keep striving and adding more amenities as we go! Thank you to our wonderful guests and hello to future guests! 👋🏽 Built in 1860 by its first caretaker botanist, this homestead was propagated over its many years of life and is busting at the seams with medicinal and edible herbs. We now run a flower farm and vegetable gardens on our homestead. If you’d like to learn about herbs or gardening/ homesteading, we love sharing our knowledge. If you’d just like some farm fresh eggs and enjoy your time alone amongst the songbirds, that's just fine too :) The property is built into the stone hillside allowing for breathtaking views but also stairs to get to the campsites. Please wear comfortable shoes (not flip flops 😉). If you have mobility issues property access will be difficult. Please no children under 5. !CLASSES! We run our small school/business: HOMESTEAD and HAMMER from the property and are bringing classes to YOU! Look in the "EXTRAS" for classes you can partake in on your visit OR for more information on what's included on class weekends check out our website below! Classes include, forAging wild edibles, mushroom identification, homesteading skills, soap making, forging metals and many more! Website: www.homesteadandhammer.com *For guest and host safety property managed 24-7 by video and security services*

2. Draco Hill Nature Farm

98%

(705)

37mi from Davenport · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · West Branch, IA

We're closing out another wonderful season with a Chestnut Festival Sunday, Oct. 19th at 2 pm. THANK YOU to all our guests who appreciated Draco Hill Nature Farm, enjoyed the trails and the river, were considerate to one another and who left their sites as clean as they found them. Hipcampers Rock! We'll see you in 2026. A convenient 7 miles north of Interstate 80 but feels like an oasis away from it all. Enjoy nature in a private, wooded river valley setting. And check out our extras! Fatwood for starting fires easily Up to 3 extra bundles of firewood A 7-person tent Freeze-dried apples A Coleman stove, matches and tank of fuel NO generators please. Campers like to go to sleep under the stars to the sound of frogs, cicadas, coyotes, deer and the rustling wind through the tallgrass prairie. Wake to an amazing sunrise over the river. Enjoy a hike through our 4 miles of trails on 75 acres of rolling woodlands and prairie, picking berries, finding mushrooms, scaring up a turkey or pheasant in the brush or listening to the birds. (Pull out your Merlin app to see who's singing!) Play in the river or upland pond, cut cattails and prairie grasses for souvenirs and enjoy being unplugged for a while. Your hosts are here if you need us, but we leave you to enjoy this beautiful place at your own pace. Draco Hill Nature Farm hosts free events during the year. See Dracohill.org/events for details. Make it part of your camping experience or sign up for your own private sustainable agriculture tour under "Extras." This is a "socks and shoes, jeans and boots" kind of camping. You're visiting wild places and a working perennial farm, so please dress appropriately for your optimal enjoyment. If you go off trails and other mowed places, you increase your chances of contact with poison ivy, wild parsnhip and ticks. Please research these ahead of time and be prepared. We live here and encounter them frequently without more than a slight inconvenience.

3. Honey Bee & Bee Homestead

100%

(12)

50mi from Davenport · 1 site · Tent, RV · Hanover, IL

Escape from the ordinary as you immerse yourself in the enchanting ambiance of our hidden sanctuary. Tucked away on a sprawling 40-acre haven of natural beauty just outside Galena, Illinois, our retreat unfolds in the heart of the stunning Driftless Area. Embrace tranquility by the serene pond, explore the meandering trails through 26 acres of protected forestry, and encounter the delightful presence of our charming residents - from chickens and guinea fowl to the gentle hum of honey bees. Meet Oxford and Pearl our friendly Great Pyrenees, who add an extra touch of warmth to our home. The Driftless Area beckons with its renowned geological wonders, presenting a captivating landscape of rolling hills, picturesque bluffs, and unparalleled scenic beauty. Delight your senses with the award-winning flavors of local Galena wines at nearby vineyards, where each sip is a celebration of the region's rich terroir.

4. Captain's Cove Muscatine

100%

(1)

19mi from Davenport · 1 site · Lodging · Muscatine, IA

Originally built with four ponds to accommodate a Catfish Farm and Shitake Mushroom Farm - this property has been in the family for four generations. We are pleased to share this amazing property with your family to continue the tradition of enjoying life's moments. We consider this place a small piece of heaven in Iowa and hope you will too. The activities available range from fishing, swimming or kayaking, in our private ponds, bonfires, outdoor grilling, sunrise or sunset watching, hiking around the property, and so much more. The property is just minutes away from Wild Cat Den State Park, bike paths and the Muscatine River Front.

Public campgrounds near Davenport

100%

(1)

Wildcat Den Campground

16mi from Davenport · 28 sites · Tents, RVs · in Wildcat Den State Park

100%

(1)

Morrison-Rockwood Campground

39mi from Davenport · 59 sites · Tents, RVs · in Morrison-Rockwood State Park

100%

(1)

Dam Complex Campground

49mi from Davenport · 173 sites · Tents, RVs · in Coralville Lake

Stories from the community

C

Charlie

3 weeks ago

23 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Honey Bee & Bee Homestead

This is my favorite spot. We started our 2025 camping season here and ended it here. Will be back again and again.

G

Grace

October 2025

Tent

1 night at 1860's Botanical Homestead

This place is everything. My friend and I booked with Jessica last minute for a night after getting rained out of our original site, and our only problem is we wish we could have stayed longer. Cozy campsite, Jessica is an INCREDIBLE, generous host (with great soaps), and what an amazing, magical piece of land to be on. Also- world’s cleanest porta potty. Had to say it. If you’re thinking about it and you’re not sure - book it. 🤍

T

Tim

October 2025

15 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

What a great little hideaway! Close to my home, super quiet and peaceful right next to the river. Everything is well marked and well kept. Nice trails to explore and super nice host. I will definitely be coming back to this one at least once a year.

C

Christopher

October 2025

16 ft travel trailer

With kids

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

Great solitude and privacy along the river! We met for a small reunion with old friends and this was a perfect halfway point for all of us. Would return again!

C

Colleen

October 2025

16 ft travel trailer

2 nights at Draco Hill Nature Farm

This is our second trip to Draco Hills and we love it! Absolutely beautiful scenery, sounds and sights of the local wildlife, and peace and quiet. The perfect little grounding getaway just minutes off of I-80.

T

Travis

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

Had a great time tent camping at this location. I have camped here multiple times and will continue. Host is great and very quick to return messages when you have questions. 5/5

Daria

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Honey Bee & Bee Homestead

We LOVED tent camping here. One of the best places in Illinois. perfect, peaceful, and picturesque

Eric

September 2025

14 ft travel trailer

With kids

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

Had a great time at this location. It would be a great place to reserve with friends due to the fact that the sun and shade rentals are close together. The view of the river is AMAZING and is a perfect spot to relax.

The view from site 2. Space is tighter getting in here.

Georgie

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

Wow! What a weekend!! I would LOVE to not give a good rating, only so I could keep this lovely place all to myself, but that would be very selfish of me. I can honestly say that this has been my favorite camping weekend of the year - and I camp a lot! It is very primitive, and very secluded. SO quiet and peaceful! It was everything we wanted! Being fairly new to Hipcamp, I sometimes have a few questions, and Suzan was always so quick to respond. This special place is definitely a do-over for me!

D

Daniel

September 2025

19 ft travel trailer

With pets

2 nights at Honey Bee & Bee Homestead

Beautiful quiet spot, with a pond, deck, and gazebo all to yourself. We loved the fenced in space that allowed our dogs more freedom than they’re used to having when camping. Definitely recommend taking advantage of the “extras” offered by the hosts. Fresh warm bread, eggs, and honey all were enjoyed on the spot. 30 A electric and quality water hook up were a big plus. Great camp experience close to all that Galena and Joe Davies County has to offer.

R

Randall

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Draco Hill Nature Farm

Lots of trails to walk around and large campsites.

T

Taylor

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Draco! This was our second time here and it is definitely a favorite. The property is beautiful and abundant with cleared trails to hike, forage, and explore as you please. Susan is a wonderful host that takes pride in sharing her space and making her guests feel comfortable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a peaceful & private camping experience! Thank you, Susan. See you soon!

Keith

September 2025

12 ft travel trailer

1 night at Draco Hill Nature Farm

Great little place to stay. Would definitely recommend.

C

Corey

September 2025

14 ft travel trailer

With pets

4 nights at Draco Hill Nature Farm

One of the best camping locations in Iowa! It was so nice to get out of the usual campground scene—this felt much more like the dispersed camping we love out west, but close to home. The site was beautiful, sunny, and felt secluded, even though the next spot was close enough to hear/see a little. Our dogs absolutely loved it. Our host was amazing—when our pup went wandered off, she jumped right in to help us search (she was found happily lollygagging on one of the trails 😅). Truly above and beyond hospitality. A couple quick notes for future campers: boat traffic was a little high (likely because it was Labor Day), but not disturbing, and we had less cell service than we anticipated, but it was honestly nice to unplug. We’d absolutely stay here again, and highly recommend the site and host!

John

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Honey Bee & Bee Homestead

Amazing spot to camp and not need to leave all weekend, plenty of activities, great accommodations, and very nicely maintained… will be coming back for sure!

Hannah

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

we love it here.. spacious campsites with privacy, plus the addition of the outhouses is awesome. love the river views and the wildflowers/prairie. thanks for having us!

J

Jane

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

We had an amazing time! Love how quiet it was. The trails are all kept nice and mowed. Lots of poison ivy around, so just be careful of your surroundings. Suzanne is a great host. We didn’t have any firewood at our location, which it said we’d have and within 5 minutes of messaging her, she was right there with it. Nice grassing, flat area for tents. We’ll definitely be back!

T

Tine

August 2025

16 ft car

With pets

2 nights at Honey Bee & Bee Homestead

A beautiful and wonderfully peaceful place to relax and enjoy nature. Friendly and welcoming owners, and their bread, honey, and eggs are highly recommended!

J

James

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

This place was amazing and wish I could have relaxed here longer. It was a perfect spot as I travel across the country training service K9s to crash for the night. Suzan was so friendly and her pups were so sweet. 100% recommend! This will definitely be back!

J

Joshua

August 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

We had a blast at this place. It was well kept, private and welcoming. Easier to find and access than expected! Kids did well. The “trees and terrace” camp site was awesome. A little grassy terrace to watch the river beneath the secluded campsite. We will be back!